Flow Cytometry is a powerful but complex technology that can be used to explore the heterogenic characteristics of particles in suspension ranging from chromosomes through cells to Protozoa.

...neither the cells nor the apparatus are capable of putting the process of cytometry in motion; the required critical element for that is a human interested in obtaining information about a cell sample...at the most basic level, a cytometer might be considered to be a "black box" with cells as "inputs" and numbers as "outputs"...while some modern cytometers (and some modern users) can obtain the desired results while running unattended in "black box" mode, it is fair to say that most of the applications, and all of the interesting applications, of cytometry call for some understanding and some intellectual effort on the pan of the user...

The FCF provides the infrastructure and expertise for UNIL internal and external research groups to perform sophisticated flow cytometric experiments.However, planning a flow cytometric experiment has its own caveats. A number of variables exists which can and will directly impact the output measure, often in extremely subtle ways and one needs to be sure that the conclusions reached are not derived from these variables as opposed to true biological processes.
Given the lack of time we have to learn new and complex technologies, we are often tempted to skip over all the details and just believe the output number, but a flow cytometer is more than just a simple “input/output” device.

Therefore the FCF staff offers support and consultation in experimental design, data acquisition as well as in subsequent data analysis and interpretation.